"Flower of Love"

by Claude McKay
David


About the poem


"Flower of Love" is a poem written by Claude McKay. McKay was a writer from James Hill, Jamaica. He wrote three great, award-winning novels and numerous books of poetry. “Flower of Love” is a short poem from one of his books of poetry called Harlem Shadows, which was published in 1922, during the Harlem Renaissance. For other works by McKay visit Marissa's page, James' page, Lucila's page, and Shomari's page



The Poem

"Flower of Love"
The perfume of your body dulls my sense.
I want nor wine nor weed; your breath alone
Suffices. In this moment rare and tense
I worship at your breast. The flower is blown,
The saffron petals tempt my amorous mouth,
The yellow heart is radiant now with dew
Soft-scented, redolent of my loved South;
O flower of love! I give myself to you.
Uncovered on your couch of figured green,
Here let us linger indivisible.
The portals of your sanctuary unseen
Receive my offering, yielding unto me.
Oh, with our love the night is warm and deep!
The air is sweet, my flower, and sweet the flute
Whose music lulls our burning brain to sleep,
While we lie loving, passionate and mute.



Analysis of poem

This is a love poem about the beauty of another person. It’s basically someone’s feeling towards this other person written with metaphors of flowers. He speaks of how he longs for, and is tempted by this person.

flower.jpg



Bibliography


"Claude McKay." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 12 May 2009, 16:23 UTC. 19 May 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Claude_McKay&oldid=289491103>.
"Flower of Love." Flower of Love Web.19 May 2009. <http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/flower-of-love/>.